24 Dec 1940
Page 1
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Newspaper
Somerset Daily American
Location
Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Dec 24, 1940
Page
1
From the White House to alley dwellings, Christmas prep is busy but tempered by sadness. Presidents family and staff greet each other with holiday wishes while furloughs expand for troops, religious services and dinners planned, and diplomats note strained celebrations amid wartime.
Labor accidents sent three workmen to the Somerset Community hospital Monday. Ernest H. Cramer 37 suffered pelvic injuries at Laurel Hill near Trent and was listed as fair. Earl Yoder 40 fractured right ankle and remained in good condition after the fracture was reduced. Kenneth Yoder 32, treated for a slight left-hand injury and discharged. William H. Gardner admitted as a medical patient.
Somerset County Home and Hospital will serve a turkey Christmas dinner to 570 inmates. The county jail will host a similar feast with baked ham for 24 inmates. A Christmas tree and decorations brighten both facilities as Santa visits on Christmas morning. Donations from Dr. Charles C. Barchfield honor his mother, and the Children’s Aid Society plans gifts and plans for the holy birthday. Junior Garden Club members held a Christmas party with refreshments and gifts for each child.
Washington dispatch reports that two Republican House members returning from Panama said Canal Zone defenses were inadequate. They criticized safeguards while noting negotiations with Panama for defense stations outside the zone. They urged timely deployment of modern aircraft and anti torpedo measures, condemning Panama’s government as mercenary and recalcitrant to American activities.
Somerset county court Christmas mood leads to paroles and jail releases as Judge Norman T Boose presides. John Julia of Berlin faces parole violations with a ten dollar monthly employer order and may return home. Hubert Knée of Coal Run must secure twenty dollars monthly for support and report in January 1941. George Sulin of Windber awaits sentence on morality and child support charges with a one thousand dollar surety bond. Charles Skeria of Windber posts five hundred dollar bond for February term on false relief claims. Charles William Cramer, paroled after four months for pocketbook theft at Somerset House hotel, previously faced six months to a year.
Justice department said Princess Hohenlohe of Hungary agreed to depart at a set time, averting deportation. Once labeled a Nazi sympathizer, she arrived in the U S a year ago from England after denials of a visa extension, with ties to German officials and Captain Fritz Weidemann.
Edward Howard Suydan, 55, artist and illustrator renowned for pencil sketches etchings and block prints, died in a Charlottesville hospital tonight of coronary thrombosis. A native of Vineland New Jersey, he had lived in San Francisco for the past decade.
Professor J B Storey aged 65, athletic director at Butler high school for ten years, collapsed in the school building shortly before a basketball game against alumni. He was Grove City College alumni and the match was canceled.
Henry Kliesp, 36, of Pan township, was electrocuted today when a boom shovel he was touching contacted a charged wire near Coverdal. The tragedy occurred in Pittsburgh on December 23, with investigators beginning work at the scene.
British Army Of The Nile pours reinforcements into the siege lines around Bardia as Chimara’s Puts carry out a notable operation. The action centers on prisoners taken by the Hellenes and the shifting strength near the Libyan fortress.
Athens reports Greek forces pushing north along the Albanian coast toward Valona and claiming the capture of the Fascist Chimara supply base. Premier Metaxas said victory was announced after a week long battle less than 30 miles south of Valona, with further operations developing. Greek high command said 29 officers and 677 men of the 141st battalion were captured, and reports noted a 153rd militia unit may have been taken.
Earthquakes shook Helena Montana with a sharp six to seven second tremor at 2 50 p m felt in Butte and Livingston. Dishes jarred and clocks stopped as residents reported plaster loosened. Weather Bureau records note the two shocks as the 2605th and 2607th since 1935 with a milder aftershock minutes later.
Somerset Community hospital officials announced two Christmas gifts from local organizations and residents. The Trinity Lutheran church Sunday school class donated blankets and a turkey roaster, and a cash contribution was received from Mrs. Frank Simpson of West Patriot Street.
Uniontown dispatch reports twelve year old David Tewell of Farmington was struck and killed today while riding his bicycle onto the National Pike near his home. The death marks Fayette County’s 36th traffic fatality this year, one more than in 1939, with the peak 62 fatalities recorded in 1937.
The notice states a service station will close on Christmas Day from 12 noon until 6 p.m. The public is advised of the shortened hours for the holiday.
Cairo dispatch reports 36,000 Italian prisoners moved to rear as British forces mass around Bardia for an assault on its 20,000 defenders. RAF raids hit Italian bases to Bengasi while Tobruk and other Libyan targets endure heavy bombardment. Prisoners and attrition rise as Graziani’s Libya plan faces scrutiny in Rome.
Vincent Charlton a 15 year old resident of Friedens is jailed again on serious morality charges. Authorities allege relations with a 14 year old Somerset township girl produced a child. He faces fornication bastardy and statutory rape charges filed before Justice H S Whipperman. Charlton disputes his age claiming he is 15.
Edgewood branch of the Fraternal Order of Eagles will host a pre Christmas party for children 12 and under in Somerset and nearby this Tuesday at 2 PM. Santa will distribute treats including oranges candy and nuts at Eagles hall corner West Main Street and South Edgewood Avenue.
Shirley Temple and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer plan to sign Thursday a contract that will bring the 11 year old star back to the screen.
Phil Orpet and his band deliver a dancing show from 10 to 1 at the town hall theater. The performance features lively polkas waltzes and popular selections appealing to local dancers and listeners.
Allied air ministry reports seven heavy raids on Mannheim this month. Bombs diverted France-bound rail traffic to a less efficient line and severely impeded river craft. Thousands of incendiaries and heavy bombs hit Mannheim and Ludwigshafen in a crowded hour. RAF attacks extended to Rhineland airfields and invasion ports, with Basel alarms signaling widespread action. Manchester endured heavy blasts, shelters struck, casualties reported. Luftwaffe countered with night raids on London. Observers link Mannheim raids to cutting rail flow from Saar valley to Italy and France.
Italian forces and supplies rolled across the Mediterranean to reinforce Fascist regions amid the British desert offensive. Mussolini’s high command said the North Africa battle remains unchanged, with a Libyan garrison vow to fight to the end. Aerial clashes and raids, including a declared sinking of a British auxiliary cruiser, were reported along the coast. Farther north, British bombers attacked Venice and nearby areas with limited damage according to the Italian high command.
A German aerial bomb smashed the Cloister court in the Houses of Parliament in London, destroying the public bills office on the east and the votes office on the south along with an old staircase to the inner lobby. The crypt remained undamaged while St. Stephen's chapel escaped, though central hall windows were shattered.
In Oriente province Cuba two Navy fliers were killed when a U S navy plane crashed at Lom a Del Infierno near San Luis after a flight from Quantico Virginia. A trio of planes encountered a severe thunderstorm over Oriente. one landed in Santiago while another reached Guantanamo. Lieutenant Robert H Richardson and Lieutenant Gavin Humphrey described the incident.
Paris leader General Charles de Gaulle announced a global passive protest for New Year's Day. In non occupied France 2 to 3 pm, no Frenchman on streets. In occupied France 3 to 4 pm, silent demonstration synchronized to German time. The event was broadcast on BBCs Free France program.
New York December 23 Arthur B Purvis director general of the British purchasing commission declared on arrival from London that American built warplanes were regarded by the British as an excellent article in every respect The fighting knowledge gained by the Royal Air Force under combat conditions has been incorporated into their design and armaments and those being turned out for Britain are an excellent article in every respect Britain must maintain her fleet at the old level by having new ships to die the places of those destroyed
Mexico City dispatch reports Capt Eddie Rickenbacker former World War ace and president of Eastern Air Lines arriving for vacation and stating he expects the United States to be at war with Germany by next summer. He predicted strong American leadership aided by Spanish speaking nations and becoming the greatest military power.
A direct bomb strike on a public shelter in a northwestern English city killed an unknown number and wounded others as German planes razed the area in a new heavy assault last night and today. Several people perished in cellars buried when houses collapsed.
The Central Chinese government announced the execution of Yang Chuan Y u former mayor of Chengtu and a leading banker here at dawn today after his conviction for hoarding rice Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek said a further hoarding check up would take place soon
Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed the Italian people urging them to remove Benito Mussolini after 18 years of power. He warned of choices between resisting British, Greek, and Allied threats or inviting Nazi occupation, condemning Mussolini and the Vatican, while praising Il Duce only briefly before urging Italians to shape their own fortunes.
Daily weather summary from Somerset records the period 5 30 p m Sunday to 5 30 p m Monday. It notes maximum and minimum temperatures and references year ago readings and the US Weather Observer David Grove. The OCR is garbled but indicates standard temperature reporting.
Maryland sees scattered clouds with Tuesday mild, Wednesday turning cloudy and warmer, then rain. Eastern Pennsylvania reports scattered clouds with warmer Tuesday, cloudy and warmer Wednesday, then rain by afternoon or night. Western Pennsylvania shares similar cloudy warm trend and rain timing. West Virginia notes scattered clouds with slightly warmer conditions Tuesday, then rain on Wednesday with warmer spells.
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